Top 10 Indian athletes who can win a medal at Paris Olympics 2024

There are only a few days left for the Paris Olympics 2024 to start. Veteran players from all over the world are now making final preparations to win medals for their country. 

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Paris Olympics 2024 will begin on July 26 in Paris, the capital of France, in which 117 Indian athletes will show their mettle to reach the podium of the world's biggest sports stage. Neeraj Chopra appears to be standing at the forefront of the list of Indian names leading the country's medal hopes. Let take a look at the top 10 contenders of the Indian contingent going to Paris who can win Olympic medals for India.

1. Neeraj Chopra (Javelin Throw)

India's star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra would like to create history by winning his second consecutive Olympic gold medal. If he is able to do this, Neeraj will be the first Indian athlete to win gold medal two consecutive times.

Neeraj last participated in the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland on June. He won the gold medal there with the best throw of 85.97 meters. Neeraj has also won gold medals at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games and a Diamond League Trophy. Despite not being able to breach the 90m mark, Neeraj has almost always emerged as the best thrower in the events that he has entered in the last few years.

2. PV Sindhu (Badminton)

India will hope for another medal from PV Sindhu, who won the silver medal in the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics and the bronze medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Sindhu is the only Indian woman athlete to win two Olympic medals. If she wins an Olympic medal in Paris, she will become India's most successful athlete.

Sindhu has got an easy group where she faces Estonia’s Kristin Kuuba and Maldives’ Fathimath Nabaaha Abdul Razzaq. She can face reigning Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei in the quarter-finals if she reaches that far. However that’s not her only concern, it’s also her poor form that saw her exit the Indonesia Open and Singapore Open early in 2024.

3. Vinesh Phogat (Wrestling)

Former world number one Vinesh Phogat, has established herself as one of the finest wrestlers India has ever produced. She has won two bronze medals in World Championships in 2019 and 2023. Phogat will have several eyes watching her as she participates in the women’s 50-kilogram category at the Paris Olympics 2024.

Wrestling champion Phogat had qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. However, she could not win any medals.

Also Read: How many sports will there be at the Paris Olympics 2024? Which are the new ones?

4. Satwik-Chirag (Badminton)

Satwiksairaj Renkireddy and Chirag Shetty have not played any tournament since the Singapore Open. Where they lost in the first round. India is hopeful of a medal from these two in men's doubles. They were the world’s No.1 men’s doubles pair recently.

At the Tokyo Olympics, both had missed out on a place in the quarter-finals despite winning two of their three group matches. After losing in the Malaysia Open and Indian Open finals earlier this year, Satwik-Chirag won the French Open and Thailand Open. They are in good form and are expected to medal at Paris but Satwik had a shoulder injury recently and how much he has recovered from it will matter a lot.

5. Mirabai Chanu (Weightlifting)

After winning the silver medal with her brilliant performance in the Tokyo Olympics, Mirabai Chanu will once again try to reach the Olympic podium in Paris. The Manipuri weightlifter will enter the Paris Olympics 2024 as one of the favorites. She is one of the most experienced in her field.

However, It has not been an easy journey for Mirabai since her victory in Tokyo as she had to go through a very difficult phase due to injuries.

6. Aditi Ashok (Golf)

India's leading golfer Aditi Ashok won gold medal in the Asian Games after missing out on winning a medal in the Tokyo Olympics after finishing fourth. Aditi will represent India in the Olympics for the third time. She played her first Olympics in the year 2016. India also has hopes of a medal from Aditi.

7. Nikhat Zareen (Boxing)

Two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen would also like to hoist the tricolor in the Paris Olympics. This will be his first Olympics. She last played at the Elorda Cup in May where she won gold. Having only lost two bouts since 2022, Nikhat (50kg) is in top form and a strong contender but her semi-final defeat to Thailand’s Raksat Chuthamat at Asian Games 2023 is also a reminder that big tournaments can be unpredictable.

8. Men's Hockey Team

Indian Men's Hockey Team has won the gold medal in the Olympics a total of eight times (1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1964, and 1980). While India have won the silver medal once (1960) and the bronze medal thrice (in 1968, 1972, and 2020). India would like to maintain its dominance again by winning the gold medal in the Paris Olympics.

India is in Pool B which also includes defending champions Belgium, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, and Ireland. With four teams qualifying for the knockouts, India has a bright chance but the toughest job will be progressing further. 

Also Read: India at Olympics: Every member of the medal-winning hockey teams

9. Lovlina Borgohain (Boxing)

Lovlina Borgohain won the bronze medal in Tokyo. Recently Lovlina participated in the Grand Prix tournament in Czech Republic where she won the silver medal. Last year she won World Championships gold in the 75kg event. She is seen as a big contender to medal once again.

Lovlina has now moved up to the 75kg category after the 69kg event was scrapped for the Olympics.

10. Sift Kaur Samra (Shooting)

Asian Games gold medalist Sift Kaur Sharma earned a place in the Paris team in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions after an excellent performance in the four-stage Olympic selection trials. Earlier last month, she played at the Munich World Cup, where she won a bronze medal. She recently completed the national camp in France and will now be seen in the Olympics.